Apparatus for electrically lighting the interior of handbags



Aug. 28, 1951 2 ,565,895

V. N. WADLAND APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY LIGHTING THE INTERIOR OF HANDBAGS Filed July 7, 1947 5 INVENTOR. WCffi/Q IV. WADlA/VD,

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A I'TOR/VE Y6 Patented Aug. 28, 1951 APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY LIGHTING THE INTERIOR F HANDBAGS Victor N. Wadland, Atlanta, Ga.

Application July 7, 1947, Serial No. 759,376

Claims.

Generically this invention relates to ladies handbags and the like, but it is more particularly directed to an illuminating device adapted to be mounted within the handbag and adapted to illuminate the interior thereof upon the initial opening movement of the handbag closing means.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of an illuminating means for handbags, having a zipper or slide-fastener type closure adapted to light the interior instantly upon the initial movement of the slide-fastener in bag opening direction.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an improved electrical illuminating means for lighting the interior of a ladys handbag or the like having a slide-fastener type closure and means in connection with the slide fastener member for opening the light circuit and turning oil the light upon movement of said member to bag closing position, and operable to close said circuit to energize said light and illuminate the interior of the handbag instantly Fig, 4 is a detailed sectional view on an enlarged scale of the switch member, the tongs of the switch member being separated by the zipper head.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4, but showing the switch tongs closed.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the principles involved for lighting the interior of the bag upon opening the same.

The devices of this character with which I am familiar have proven deficient in difierent' respects, some of which are: illuminating devices of complex construction, bulky, diflicult to mount within the handbag, and when mounted upon movement of said fastener in bag opening direction.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an electrical illuminating device of this character for handbags and the like, comprising a compact electrical unit including a lightweight mounting member constructed of a transparent or other plastic material, admitting of being mounted within the bag so as not to interfere with the filling or removal of its contents, and adapted to be manufactured with the handbags or readily attachable as a unit to ber, as a part of the zipper actuating head,

in the position it assumes when the switch is open and the light is off.

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the switch closed and the switch actuating member withdrawn from the switch members or tongs, the bag being now partially open and the light on.

adapted to interfere with and be damaged by the placing in and removal of articles from the handbag, such electrical illuminating devices adapted to be lighted upon the complete opening of the handbag, and, therefore, it was to overcome the above disadvantages by providing an illuminating device for a zipper or slide-fastener type of handbag comprising a mounting for the light source and contact and electrical conductors, binding posts and the like, of minimum size and constructed of a plastic material, said device preferably adapted to be mounted on and secured to the end wall of the bag, circuit control means associated with said slide-fastener, and means carried by the slide-fastener adapted to engage said control means upon movement of said fastener to complete bag closing position to open said circuit and cut ofif the light, and, upon the initial movement of said fastener in bag opening direction, to close said circuit and imstantly illuminate the interior of the bag, that I designed the illuminating device forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a conventional type of ladys handbag or the like A including a bottom 5, corresponding flexible side members 6 and ends 1 (one of which is shown), said side r members being formed adjacent their upper edges with parallel portions 8. A pair of tapes 9 are secured along their upper edges to the upper edges of portions 8 by stitching H], the lower edges of said tapes 9 are provided with a pair of strips of hookless fasteners I I, and a slide fastener or operator head I2. is provided for said fastener strips ll. Suitably mounted on the free end of said head is a socket or clasp member l3 in which is suitably secured a dielectric stud member [4 of fibrous or other non-conducting material. Secured to one of the portions 8 at the end thereof by a rivet or other suitable fastening means I5 is a tubular element I6, constructed of plastic or other non-conducting material, and mounted interior thereof is a pair of spring contact or switch members ll, said members being connected to the ends of electrical conductors l8 and I9 by metallic binding posts or rivets 20 and 20', respectively.

A plastic mounting member B is formed with a cutout portion 2|, a thickened portion 22, and oppositely extending flange portions 23, said thickened portion 22 is formed with a right angular opening '24 communicating with opening 2| and is formed with internal threads 25 adapted to threadedly receive the metallic threaded portion 26 of a light bulb 21. Said member 26 is formed with a tip contact 28 adapted to engage the free end of a wire or plate contact member 29, the opposite end of said member being connected to the end of an electrical conductor 30 by a binding post or screw 3|, said conductor extending through mounting B as at 32 and through opening 33 in wall 34 of battery pocket 35, said pocket being formed on end wall 1- and closed by a zipper 36, said conductor 30 being connected to a source of electrical energy or battery 31 contained and concealed in said pocket. In the present instance, one end of said wall 34 is suitably secured to end 1 and the other to bottom 5. The conductor i8 also extends through opening 33 and is connected to battery 31. The end 38 of conductor I9 is adapted to engage the end 39 of a contact wire or the like 40 which is adapted to extend through slot 4|, formed in the mounting portion 22, and in contact engagement with the metallic member 26 of bulb 21. Said end 39, if desired, may be flattened and is adapted to seat on said portion 22 of mounting B and to engage the end 38 of conductor l9, said parts being secured by a binding post 42.

The electrical circuit is completed from battery 31 through conductor 3!], binding post 3|, contacts 29 and 28, metallic portion '26, contact 40, conductor l9, binding post 20, contact or switch members I1, binding post 20' and conductor I8, back to battery 31, when said switch members H are in circuit closing position (Fig. 3). When the slide fastener or operator [2 is retracted with respect to said switch members H, and as said member I2 is being moved in the direction of the arrow in bag opening direction, as shown in Fig. 3, the interior of the bag will be illuminated.

As will be apparent upon the initial movement of operator l2 and switch member l4 from the circuit opening position, as shown in Fig. 2, said switch members I? will engage each other closing the circuit, as shown in Fig. 3, instantly lighting fore, it is especially important that the illuminating device be positioned at the right hand and closure opening end of the bag, and that the interior of the bag be illuminated instantly upon the beginning of the opening movement, so that such articles as above mentioned can be reached without necessitating complete opening of the bag. This also tends to eliminate the spilling of articles and contents of the bag in attempting to find the desired article under crowded conditions, such as street cars, busses, outdoor assemblages, and in other places where there are poor lighting effects.

Further, it will be apparent that I have provided a single mounting for the light source and switch instrumentalities constructed of Lucite or other like plastic substance, the entire device weighing but a few ounces, and th arrangement of the mounting being such that the light source, contacts and connections; are readily installable inthe mounting and adapted to be designed as a part of the bag at the time of its manufacture, or mounted as an attachment to a bag already manufactured, comprising few parts, easily assembled and installable in a manner such as not to interfere with or be damaged by the placing of articles within the handbag or removing them therefrom, said device being manufacturable at a negligible cost, and efficient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of th invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efficient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may b resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of th invention.

Havin thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A handbag comprising end and side walls, the side walls connected at their upper edges by r a fastener comprising a series of interlocking light 21 and illuminating the interior of the bag at the beginning of the bag opening" operation, said bag remaining illuminated during the zipperopening movement and during its closing movement until said head I2 is again returned to complete bag closing position and member l4- elements on the respective sidewalls and interlocked and released by a longitudinally extending slide, said slide being formed with an extension of insulating material projecting in alignment with said slide and interlocking elements, a switch mechanism includin a pair of normally contacting resilient contact members terminating in free end portions oppositely disposed relatively to the insulating extension of the slide for separation one from another responsively to entry of the slide extension between said free end portions of the resilient contact members as the slide attains its terminal position completely interlocking said interlocking elements, a lamp mounting block of insulating material attached to one of the end walls of said bag and formed with a seat adapted to receive the threaded plug of an incandescent lamp, contacts carried by said block and in engagement with the contact elements of said plug, a source of electrical energy, and an electrical circuit including said source of electrical energy, the contacts of said lamp mounting, and the normally contacting resilient elements, whereby as the slide member is operated to release the interlocked members said circuit will be instantly closed, and the interior of the handbag illuminated.

2. A handbag comprising end and side walls, the sidewalls connected at their upper edges by a fastener comprising a series of interlocking elements on the respective sidewalls and interlocked and released by a longitudinally extending slide, said slide being formed with an extension of insulating material projectin in alignment with said slide and interlocking elements, a switch mechanism including a tubular member and a pair of resilient contact members oppositely positioned within said member, the said resilient members having oppositely disposed free ends normally in contact with one another, the insulating extension of the slide entering between the free ends of the resilient contact members and effecting separation of the said free ends of the contact members when the slide attains its terminal position completely interlocking said interlocking fastener elements, a lamp mounting block of insulating material attached to one of the end walls of said bag, and formed with a seat adapted to receive the threaded plug of an incandescent lamp, contacts carried by said block and in engagement with the contact elements of said plug, a source of electrical energy, and an electrical circuit including said source of electrical energy, the contacts of said lamp mounting and the normally contacting resilient members, whereby as the slide member is operated to re-- lease the interlocked members said circuit will W be instantly closed and the interior of the handbag illuminated.

3. A handbag comprising end and side walls, the side walls connected at their upper edges by a fastener comprising a series of interlocking elements on the respective sidewalls and interlocked and released by a longitudinally extending slide, said slid being formed with an extension of insulating material projecting in alignment with said slide and interlocking elements, a switch mechanism including an insulating housing member, a pair of normally closed contacts oppositely positioned within said housing and having free end portions normally in contact with each other and receiving therebetween the insulatin extension of th slide when the slide attains its terminal position completely interlocking said interlocking fastener elements, the reception of the insulating slide extension between the free ends of the said contacts disengaging the contacts from one another, a lamp mounting block of insulating material attached to one of said end walls, said block being bored and formed to receive the threaded plug of an incandescent lamp, contacts carried by said block and in engagement with the contact elements of said plug, a source of electrical energy, and an electrical circuit including said source of electrical energy, the contacts of said lamp mounting, and the normally contacting resilient members, whereby as the slide member is operated to release the interlocked members said circuit will be instantly closed and the interior of the handbag illuminated.

4. A handbag comprising end and side walls, th side walls connected at their upper edges by a fastener comprising a series of interlocking elements on the respective sidewalls and interlocked and released by a longitudinally extending slide, said slide bein formed with an extension of insulating material projecting in alignment with said slide and interlocking elements, a switch mechanism including a housing of insulating material attached to the upper edge of one of said side walls, a pair of contact members mounted in the housing and having normally contacting resilient free end portions receiving therebetween the said insulating slide extension and being separated by the said insulating extension of the slide when the slide attains its terminal position completely interlocking said interlocking elements, a lamp mounting block of insulating material attached to one of the end walls of said bag, said block being transversely boredand formed to receive the threaded plug of an incandescent lamp, contacts carried by said block and in engagement with the contact elements of said plug, a source of electrical energy, and an electrical circuit including said source of electrical energy, the contacts of said lamp mounting, and the normally contactin resilient members, whereby as the slide member is operated to release the interlocked members said cir-- cuit will be instantly closed and the interior of the handbag illuminated.

5. A handbag comprising end and sid walls, the sidewalls connected at their upper edges by a fastener comprising a series of interlocking elements on the respective sidewalls and interlocked and released by a longitudinally extending slide, said slide being formed with an extension of insulating material projecting in alignment with said slide and interlocking elements, a switch mechanism including a housing of insulating material attached to the upper edge of one of said side walls, a pair of normally contacting resilient electrical contact members mounted in said housing and separably receiving between them the said insulating slide extension of the slide when the said slide attains its terminal position completely interlocking said interlocking fastener elements, a lamp mounting block of insulating material attached to one of the end walls of said bag, said block being transversely bored and formed to receive the threaded plug of an incandescent lamp, said plug having a center contact, a contact element carried by said block and adapted to engage said center contact when said plug is seated, said block being formed with a slot intersecting said transverse bore, a contact member mounted in said slot in engagement with said plug and connected to said block, a source of electrical energy, and an electrical circuit including said source of electrical energy, the contacts of said lamp mounting and the normally contacting resilient elements, whereby as the slide member is operated in bag opening direction to release the interlocking members, said circuit will be instantly closed illuminating the interior of the handbag, and as said slide member moving in bag closing direction attains its terminal position, its extension simultaneously separates said resilient members opening said circuit and extinguishing said lamp.

VICTOR N. WADLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,262,011 Kunkel et al. Nov. 11, 1941 2,304,387 Whiting et al. Dec. 8, 1942 2,320,409 Cohen June 1, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 351,500 England June 23, 1931 632,708 France Oct. 10, 1.927 

